Alexander Isak’s feelings shifted after learning that Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike ahead of him.

Alexander Isak’s genuine reaction to Liverpool signing Hugo Ekitike ahead of him has been revealed. The Swedish international was the main focus of the transfer window last summer, eventually completing a British record move to Anfield on deadline day after repeatedly insisting he would never play for Newcastle again.

At one stage, it seemed Newcastle might allow Isak to leave only after securing a deal for French striker Ekitike. However, Liverpool intervened and signed the then Eintracht Frankfurt player instead. New details have now emerged about how Isak responded to this development.

According to a report by The Athletic, the timeline of Ekitike’s transfer to Liverpool showed Newcastle felt the Reds’ pursuit of Ekitike—while simultaneously negotiating with Isak—was a strategic power move. Liverpool was aware Newcastle were interested in Isak and didn’t want to lose out on him either.

Liverpool’s side was that Newcastle came late to express interest in Ekitike, with the Reds having been in talks with the 23-year-old since January and again towards the end of the 2024/25 season.

Regarding Isak’s reaction, sources close to him said his mood noticeably changed once he learned Ekitike was heading to Merseyside. Although Isak had already joined Newcastle’s training camp in Austria, Ekitike’s signing coincided with Isak suffering a minor injury that ruled him out of the pre-season tour of Asia—an event that marked, at least publicly, the start of the uncertainty surrounding his future.

Isak continued to press for a move, publicly stating that broken promises had led to his refusal to attend the PFA awards. Newcastle, meanwhile, stood firm, refusing to be pressured into selling one of their key players.

Behind the scenes, however, manager Eddie Howe, who had publicly expressed his wish for Isak to stay, began to realize convincing the striker to remain was unlikely. Forcing Isak to stay could potentially damage Newcastle’s season. Howe admitted in a press conference that the situation had become a “lose-lose” for the club, which eventually gave in and moved to replace Isak with Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade.